Printer Drive locations

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Level 1

30 points

Printer Drive locations

Just bought a new Mac Mini to replace another one. The one Im replacing is running Monterey working good. I remember having to go through a lot to get my printer printing correctly. Well with this new computer I am back to the printing issue. What I would like to do is copy the printer Driver off my old mac mini and replace the current driver on the new MacMini Monterey install with the driver from the old one. So where in library do I find the printer driver?

The issue with the old driver is I can't print PDFs or Affinity files without getting a file corrupt error. I can take the file save it to a flash drive take it to the computer I just replaced and prints fine. So once I get that driver over should solve the issue.

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on May 21, 2022 7:48 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,235 points

May 21, 2022 10:27 AM in response to macmikeal

Another question is whether a driver actually is needed, since the specifications indicate that AirPrint is supported.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-color-laserjet-pro-mfp-m477-series/7326560/model/7326562/document/c04825025

Three M477 variants are listed in About AirPrint - Apple Support.

HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477dn
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477dw
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477nw

I assume that the fnw does not change anything in this respect.

An AirPrint-enabled model is compatible with macOS, and can be used without additional drivers, provided that the printer and the computer are connected to the same network (Wi-Fi router). The printer could be wirelessly connected, or wired (Ethernet) to one of the LAN ports of the router.

Printer drivers/software from the manufacturer may or may not add functionality.

Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac – Apple Support (UK)

Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem – Apple Support (UK)

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Answer 2

MartinR

Level 7

24,101 points

May 21, 2022 9:32 AM in response to macmikeal

It would have been helpful to know exactly what make/model printer you have.

There's no guarantee that copying an old printer driver to your new Mac is going to solve anything ... and moving/copying it yourself instead of running the appropriate installer could cause problems ... and it may not even be compatible with Monterey.

That said, printer drivers & PPDs are located in:

/Library/Printers and ~/Library/Printers

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Answer 3

MartinR

Level 7

24,101 points

May 21, 2022 8:24 AM in response to macmikeal

It would be better to obtain the latest driver compatible with Monterey from the manufacturer of your printer.

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Answer 4

macmikeal Author

Level 1

30 points

May 21, 2022 10:48 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Yes it does support air print. It will print pngs no problem. Word documents, PDFs and Affinity type docs give me the corrupted file error. I had this before and hacked the ppd file and solved. The solved ppd is in the other computer. I didn’t or at least lost my notes on what lines in the code changed to get it to work. Printer isn’t made any more so in 2020 HP did care about updating it to work. So I got into the code and changed it. I could get into the one I hacked hunt the change come in to this ppd make the change. But easier to just bring a copy of the fixed ppd to the new computer or as HP said buy a new printer.

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Answer 5

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,235 points

May 21, 2022 9:21 AM in response to macmikeal

Hi,

Any information about the exact printer model?

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Answer 6

macmikeal Author

Level 1

30 points

May 21, 2022 10:04 AM in response to MartinR

I understand that. But if I have the driver that works setting on my computer and run the HP Smart assistant it will go and get that driver rather than what it is currently picked up. The One that works I had hacked before to get it to work. Because I couldn't get a driver from HP that worked and they weren't interested in making it work. FYI printer is Color Laser Jet Pro MFP M477fnw.

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Answer 7

macmikeal Author

Level 1

30 points

May 21, 2022 11:11 AM in response to macmikeal

Forgot to mention. The file that gives me corrupted file error. If I copy it to a flash drive and take it to the computer with the hacked ppd it will print via air print direct or through my network. But will not print in anyway on the new Macmini using Air print or Network. I will take the printer file from library Monday from old and bring it the new and see if that does it.

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